Rajya Sabha lawmaker from Gujarat, Mansukh Mandaviya, who was the junior minister in charge of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Chemicals & Fertilizers, is the new health minister of India. In a big cabinet rejig, PM Narendra Modi inducted 35 new faces in the cabinet and promoted 7 ministers. The change of guard in the health ministry came at a time when the Modi government was facing massive criticism from all sides over the alleged mishandling of the COVID crisis during the deadly second surge of the pandemic.

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Earlier, the ministry was held by Dr Harsh Vardhan, who held the portfolio in Delhi as well as at the Centre with a stellar record till the second surge of Covid hit the country. The government faced flak over the alleged mishandling of the crisis. The opposition, however, said the former health minister was made a “scapegoat for monumental failures at the highest level.”

Mansukh Mandaviya was inducted into the Union council of ministers as a Minister of State in 2016. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2012 and re-elected in 2018. He became the Chairman of Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation in 2011 when PM Modi was the Chief Minister.

Born in a humble household in village Hanol in the Saurashtra region, Mandaviya became the youngest legislator at the age of 28 years in 2002. An animal lover by nature, he studied veterinary science and later did his masters in political science.

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Mandaviya is known for his padyatras that he undertook to connect with the people of his constituency and for spreading awareness. He organized his first yatra as a legislator in 2005 when he walked 123 km through 45 educationally backward villages in Palitana to advocate girls’ education. Next, he walked on foot covering 127 km crossing 52 villages in 2007 advocating girls’ education.

Mansukh Mandaviya, who has worked on several projects for the welfare of women, was honoured by Unicef for his contribution to women’s menstrual hygiene.